Captain Jeremiah O’Brien (1744–1818) was in command of Unity when she captured HMS Margaretta in the first naval battle of the American Revolutionary War. He was born at Kittery, Maine. O'Brien and his five brothers, Gideon, John, William, Dennis and Joseph, were crewmembers of the sloop Unity when she captured Margaretta on 12 June 1775, at the entrance to the harbor at Machias (a town then in Massachusetts, later in Maine). Under the command of Jeremiah O’Brien, thirty-one townsmen armed with guns, swords, axes, and pitch forks captured the British armed schooner in an hour-long battle after Margaretta had threatened to bombard the town for interference with the shipment of lumber to British troops in Boston, Massachusetts. This battle is often considered the first time British colors were struck to those of the United States, even though Unity was not formally a member of the Continental Navy. The United States Merchant Marine claims Unity as its member and this incident as their beginning. A privateer, O'Brien continued as the captain of Unity, renamed Machias Liberty, for two years. In later years, he had an appointment as the federal customs collector for the port of Machias. a position he held until his death.

Bill Gonyo

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Artist's conception of the O'Brien as built in a cutaway view by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company Navy Yard Associates offers prints of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource.

Artist's conception of the O'Brien as she appeared following her FRAM II overhaul by the renowned graphic illustrator John Barrett with the text written by naval author and historian Robert F. Sumrall. Their company Navy Yard Associates offers prints of most destroyers, destroyer escorts, submarines and aircraft carriers in various configurations during the ship's lifetime. The prints can be customized with ship's patches, your photograph, your bio, etc. If you decide to purchase artwork from them please indicate that you heard about their work from NavSource.

O'Brien's officers circa 1944. The officer 3rd from left front, is CDR William W Outerbridge, O'Brien's captain, and former captain of USS Ward, DD-139, (mini-sub sinking off Pearl Harbor on 12/07/41.) Three years later to the day, 12/07/44, Outerbridge, as Capt. of O'Brien, sank the Ward, (APD-16/DD139,) by gunfire following her destruction by kamikaze attack. To his left is LT James P. Murphy, the Communications Officer.

Roy Thomas

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USS Ward (APD-16) Burning in Ormoc Bay, Leyte, Philippine Islands, after she was hit by a Kamikaze on 7 December 1944. USS O'Brien (DD-725) is fighting fires from alongside, as landing craft circle to rescue survivors. Photographed from USS Crosby (APD-17). Official U.S. Navy Photograph, now in the collections of the National Archives.

U.S. Navy Task Force 77 being refueled off Korea, in May 1951. The aircraft carrier is USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31), the battleship is most probably USS New Jersey (BB-62), with the destroyer USS O'Brien (DD-725) in front. Bon Homme Richard, with assigned Carrier Air Group 102 (CVG-102), was deployed to Korea from 10 May to 17 December 1951. U.S. Navy photo from the USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31) 1951 cruise book.